The Forecastle Festival and Nederlander Entertainment have announced the headliners for the 8th annual Forecastle Festival, July 10th – 12th at the Riverfront Belvedere in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

Widespread Panic will perform for two of the three nights, one of only three festival appearances this summer. Performing alongside are the Black Crowes, the Black Keys, the Avett Brothers, and over sixty-five bands and DJs to be announced.

Pre-sales begin today at TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com/forecastle), with single-day passes beginning at $40.00 and three-day passes at $100.00. Kick-off parties, after-parties, and VIP package options are also available, as well as campground accommodations and on-site hotel rooms overlooking both the Forecastle festival site and the scenic Ohio river.

“After eight years of grassroots festival building, we are opening an exciting new chapter in the history of this unique, cultural experience,” says Forecastle founder and producer JK McKnight.

Forecastle, named “One of the Top 101 Things to Do in America” by SPIN Magazine, and the "Cream of the Crop” by the Discovery Channel, was founded in 2002. The event is an equal representation of music, arts, and activism, featuring bands, artists and activist groups from ten participating cities throughout the Midwest.

Previous headliners have included De La Soul, The Disco Biscuits, Tortoise, GZA, Girl Talk, Sleater-Kinnney, and Del McCoury, with speakers such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In addition to music, the 2009 art and activism components will be equally showcased with over sixty environmental non-profit organizations, international / regional / local artists, films, an outdoor extreme sports park, environmental and music industry related panels, speakers, forums and more along the Ohio River.